July 25

SAINT JAMES THE GREATER

d. 44

St. James was a part of Jesus's "inner circle" along with his brother John and Peter. He, with Peter and John, witnessed Jesus's Transfiguration and His agony in Gethsemane. He and John were called "Sons of Thunder," probably because of their zealous temperaments. After Jesus's Ascension, St. James made a pilgrimage to the area between Spain and Portugal to evangelize. When he returned to Judea, King Herod beheaded him. He was the first Apostle to die for his faith.

Did you know?

Legend holds that after he was killed, St. James's body was taken by Christians to Spain, pulled in a cart by an ox. When the animal stopped to rest at the top of a hill, the people accompanying St. James's body built a chapel and interred his body there. The chapel is now the Cathedral of Santiago, and the final destination of the famous pilgrimage, Santiago de Compostela.

A family tradition...

Consider starting a tradition with your family of making a pilgrimage yearly. A pilgrimage does not need to be far, or complicated. For example, you can travel to another Catholic Church for Mass, or visit a significant Catholic site, like the Martyrs Shrine, and pray together for a specific intention.